Rescued

by L. P. Maxa

  “You’re babbling again,” he interrupted, holding back his grin. He leaned one hip against the table and tucked the fingers of one hand into the pocket of his khaki shorts.

  Lucy crossed her arms across her chest and exhaled loudly. “I want to know why you named such a huge dog Baby. Why didn’t you name him Bruiser or Goliath or Darth Vader? Something more appropriate for a big black dog?”

  “I didn’t name him. He’s a rescue, and his former owner was an eighty-nine-year-old neighbor with a warped sense of humor. She named him Baby, and when she had to move to a nursing home suddenly, she had to find him a new home. I’d been thinking about getting a dog, and I knew he was well-trained.”

  “And named Baby.”

  Noah shook his head and gave a long, low sigh. “I tried to change his name to Thor. I thought that was more in keeping with the breed.”

  “But he had other ideas?”

  Noah nodded and chuckled softly. “You don’t know the half of it. He wouldn’t obey me. He wouldn’t eat. You’d have thought I had cut out his heart and thrown it to the sharks.”

  Baby heard his name and meandered to Noah’s side. “You’re too smart for me, aren’t you, Thor?”

  Baby garrumped and shook his head violently.

  “See?” Noah reached down and picked up a worn tennis ball. “Sit. Stay.” He tossed the ball and the dog followed it visually, but never budged. “Thor, fetch.”

  And the dog yawned and flopped to the grass, stretching to his full length.

  “Go get it, Thor.”

  Lucy laughed as the dog rolled to one side and put a paw over his eye. “You really don’t like that name, do you?”

  “Now watch this,” Noah continued. “Baby, fetch.”

  And in one smooth move, the dog leaped into the air, ran to the bush where the ball had rolled. He returned, nosed the ball toward Noah, and sat at attention to wait for the game to continue.

  “Speaking of names, have you thought about what to call the puppies?” He threw the ball again and Baby raced after it.

  “I thought I’d call them by a number from one to six and let their forever owners name them.”

  “A number? Aww, that’s cold. Come on. You need to give them names.”

  “Names. Where’s the Internet when you need it?” She crinkled her nose as she considered Noah’s question. “Are you sure I can’t just call them by numbers?”

  “Oh, I can see it now. Here, Three. Sit, Five. Really? If you’re going to do that, you might as well just name them Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, and Foxtrot.”

  “Hmm. I could call the males Alfie, Bravo, and Echo. And that one little female could be Foxy. I like it.” A broad smile spread across her face.

  “Ugh, I was kidding.”

  “Then we’re back to numbers because I’m coming up blank.”

  Noah threw up his hands. “Whatever. Their forever owners will probably change their names anyway.”

  “Unless these dogs are like Baby.” Lucy giggled, and the black dog ambled to her side and dropped the ball at her feet. She tossed it and pointed. “Fetch, Thor.”

  The dog turned his head, gave her a look that could only be described as pure disdain, and didn’t budge.

  “You’re one of a kind, aren’t you. Fetch, Baby.”

  “Definitely one of a kind,” Noah agreed as he poured boiling water into the press. “Does Chessie like to play with a ball?”

  Lucy paled a bit. “I have no idea. I never tried. I didn’t even think of it. What sort of dog owner am I?”

  “A novice. Don’t beat yourself up. You’re learning. Let me get another ball and you can roll it a few feet to see if she’ll fetch.”

  Chessie quickly picked up on the game, and Lucy rewarded her with treats Noah handed her. After Chessie tired and whined at the back door to be let inside, Lucy settled back into the chair. “What’s in your garden?” She pointed to the back corner of the yard.

  “Not much now. And while I haven’t checked, I’m almost positive anything in there was beaten to a pulp by the wind and rain last night. But earlier in the summer I had tomatoes and squash and cucumbers. Oh, and beans.”

  Lucy smiled. “My grandparents always had a big garden when I was a kid. I’d stay with them for a couple weeks in the summer and help Granny. You know, shucking corn and shelling peas and snapping beans.” A wistful look crossed her face. “Those were the best days. No worries about a job or bills or… or…”

  “Hurricanes and pregnant dogs,” he added.

  “Exactly. How soon do you think we’ll get electricity and water back?”

  Noah had no precise answer, but based on past experience, he knew it would be more than a few days, which was another reason people were encouraged to evacuate. Without essential utilities, life descended into chaos. And chaotic people tended to behave at their worst. He wasn’t worried about chaotic behavior from Lucy, but the lack of fresh running water could prove to be problematic. He always kept a supply on hand, but it was a supply for one person and a large dog. The demand was now more than doubled.

  “I spoke to my office on the mainland earlier and crews are out working, but there’s no prediction about when service will be restored. Based on the storm we had three years ago, it won’t be anytime soon.”

  “Define anytime soon.” Lucy’s forehead wrinkled, and Noah felt the urge to take his fingers and gently smooth those wrinkles out.

  “When a tropical storm grazed us three years ago, it took four days to get power back and another day for water. Even then we were told not to flush the toilet because the sewer lift stations were not operational yet. That took another day or two. So, I’d say we’re at least a week away from all utilities being functional.”

  “Oh.” The disappointment in her voice was palpable, and Noah couldn’t blame her. She had ridden out the storm without much complaint, but it was a lot to ask most anyone to do without running water for that long. “What are we going to do?”

  “I,” he said, emphasizing the word, “am going to take the Jeep out a little later and see how far I can get. I don’t know if anything is open, but if it is, I’ll see about getting more water. I have a supply here but with more mouths needing it, it won’t last as long.”

  “I have bottled water at the house if we can get there to get it.” Lucy’s face brightened.

  “We are not going anywhere. I don’t know what the roads are like and there are downed power lines to contend with. I need you to stay here and tend to the dogs. If I can reach your house, I’ll get anything from there that you need in addition to the water. In the meantime, I’ll heat you a pot of water to wash with and maybe that will help you feel a little more decent.”

  Noah realized his mistake as soon as the words left his mouth. “Not that you don’t look decent. I meant that washing up made me feel better and—”

  “I understand,” she interrupted. “I’m sure I look like something dragged out of a sewer.” She pushed her hair back from her face and pulled an elastic from her wrist to gather the curls into a ponytail. Noah noted that the dark circles under her eyes had faded. No doubt, sleep had helped.

  “Not at all. You look pretty damned good for someone who gave birth in a hurricane. Wait. That didn’t sound right. You didn’t give birth, but you assisted. And I better shut up before I completely embarrass myself.”

  After more water heated, Noah carried the pot to the bathroom and offered Lucy a clean towel and washcloth. “Take your time. I’m going to head out now and explore. I won’t be gone long. I’ll leave coffee on the kitchen island. And give me your key in case I can get to your house. Write down what you need and where it is.”

  Lucy jotted a quick list and handed it over along with the keychain that held her house key. “This is the essentials plus water.” She pulled the list away and added another line item. “If you see a store open and we can get to it, come back and I’ll go with you. Two of us can make it an easier job.”

  Noah glanced at h
er list and saw she had been truthful. Only the essentials. If he was able to get to 432 Beachside Drive, he’d look around and bring even more of her things to try to make her stay a little more pleasant. They were destined to be housemates for a few days at least. And a happy housemate meant he’d be happy too.

  ###

  Thirty minutes later Lucy exited the bathroom with a clean body and clean clothes, and she couldn’t believe how much better she felt. “Amazing what some soap and water can do, isn’t it?” She spoke to both dogs, who sat attentively in the hallway. “I guess you don’t think so,” she said, scratching Chessie behind the ears before the dog trotted to her puppies and lay down to let them nurse. “My last attempt at giving you a bath got me wetter than you.”

  She wadded her dirty clothes into a ball and stuffed them into a plastic bag she’d found in the kitchen pantry, then she returned to the bathroom and knelt by the shower stall to do a closer check on the puppies. All six appeared healthy, and Chessie was being an attentive mother. Even Baby had gotten in on the action by sitting by the shower stall and keeping watch if Chessie left the room.

  “What do you think about these names?” Lucy rattled off the six names Noah suggested. “And you are the one I’ll call Foxy,” she said, gently stroking the smallest female. Chessie yipped softly as if to approve. “Then I guess you have names.”

  A noise in the kitchen drew her attention and she found Noah entering the back door with his hands…empty. Damn, the man was drop-dead gorgeous. The sun had bleached the ends of his brown hair and sapphire eyes sparkled from his tanned face. His arms and legs were deeply tanned as well, and knowing how tan his chest was, Lucy wondered how much of him wasn’t tanned.

  She yanked her thoughts back, hoping he had left everything in the car and wanted her to help him bring it in. When he toed off his shoes by the door and gave her a one-shouldered shrug, she knew.

  “You couldn’t get to the house.”

  Noah shook his head. “Between the uprooted trees and downed power lines, the island is pretty impassable. But crews are out trying to clear things so maybe later today or tomorrow I can get there.”

  “What about flooding? Did you see or hear anything from your office?” Lucy held her breath, hoping for good news.

  “The village is still under about a foot of water and the intersection where the causeway meets the mainland is even worse.”

  “What about my street?”

  “I know there’s some flooding, but I don’t have specifics.” He held her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

  “Your Jeep is higher off the ground than my car. Could we try to drive there?”

  Noah shook his head again. “My boss is telling everyone to stay off the roads except for official business. I can’t expect others to obey his warnings if I don’t. Besides, my Jeep isn’t designed to handle high water and I wouldn’t want us to get washed off the road and put in danger.”

  Lucy’s bit her lower lip to try to hold the tears at bay. “Some Noah you are. You don’t even have an ark to handle a little bit of high water.”

  He chuckled, then became serious and strode across the kitchen to take her chin in his hand. “I’m sorry you’re stranded here. I should have worked harder to get you to the mainland, dogs and all. But we’re here and all we can do is make the best of it. I’m going to fire up the camp stove again and start cooking the meat that’s thawing in my freezer. Burgers for lunch and steak for dinner sound okay?”

  “Like you have to ask,” Lucy replied with a sniffle. “I never turn down a good steak. Medium rare, thank you.”

  “Is there any other way to cook it? I have a couple potatoes too and a can of green beans. I can fix all that on the camp stove and we’ll have a feast. We’ll eat al fresco.”

  “Oh crap. I just remembered, I didn’t bring the bag of special food for Chessie since she’s nursing puppies.” And one more sharp blade of guilt stabbed at her for having put the dog in such a bad position. “She’s been a little picky about her food anyway.”

  “I have plenty of the food I feed Baby. It’s not ideal, but it’ll work until we can get her something else. I gave her some earlier and she scarfed it right down.”

  Of course she had, the traitor. Lucy could hardly blame the dog, though. Lucy would probably eat out of the man’s hand if he offered.

  Noah seemed to have a solution for everything. And Lucy was grateful for that because for someone who solved everyone else’s social media problems, she was coming up empty in the solution department for her own life.

  Chapter Eight

  Twenty-four hours had passed since Dolly had slammed into St. Magnus Island, and when Noah stepped outside his house, he could hear the whine of chain saws from every direction. He crossed his fingers that roads had been cleared enough for him to get to Lucy’s house and that the house had survived with minimal damage. Lucy was already skating on the edge, and finding her home badly damaged would push her over.

  Normally, Baby wouldn’t have accompanied him on a ride like this, but Noah had already heard several accounts of looting, so Baby was coming as a deterrent to anyone who might have mischief in mind. The Glock on Noah’s hip would help too.

  With the big dog in the backseat, Noah navigated back streets that would intersect with Beachside Drive north of the village and avoid the worst flooded areas.

  Along the way he noted pine trees uprooted and lying like sleeping giants in yards and across roofs and cars. In places where chain saw crews had already worked, limbs were piled so high along the road that the homes were invisible behind them.

  At the intersection of Spanish Moss and St. Magnus Way, he saw the damage to the gas station firsthand. The metal roof covering the pump area had been partially detached and sagged over the parking lot like it was winking at the world. An almost-new SUV sat out in the open with its shiny black finish pocked by hail. This station was one of only two on the island, and if it was out of service for long, residents might be forced to drive to the mainland to fill their tanks.

  As the Jeep crept along the street, a utility truck sped by as a reminder to keep an eye out for power lines that might be lying across the road. As he slowed and swerved around the flotsam and jetsam of people’s lives strewn about, a long snake slithered across the road in front of him.

  Noah’s toes curled. At least Baby hadn’t seen it. On more than one occasion Noah had discovered the dog cornering a snake in the backyard. All had been nonvenomous, but even so, Noah’s first instinct had been to shoot first and ask questions later. Wouldn’t the other deputies have a field day with that information about him? He hoped they’d never find out.

  He slowed as he approached Beachside and began to see evidence of flooding. As he turned north, he could tell the road had been submerged because of the brackish coat of gunk on the pavement. A newer three-level had pink insulation hanging from the trees like holiday garland, and the roof of another house had been ripped off, leaving the rafters exposed like the rib bones of a Thanksgiving turkey carcass.

  When Noah reached Lucy’s house and pulled into the drive, he released the breath he hadn’t realize he was holding. He angled out of the car, stuck his hand into his pocket, and grunted when he realized he had forgotten to bring the key. With the storm shutters down, he couldn’t even see inside the house. But with Baby on a leash, he walked the perimeter and noted no damage to the roof or windows. He could at least take that good news back to Lucy.

  The yard was another matter, however. Several large limbs had sheared off the oak trees and littered the yard along with smaller branches. Mounds of Spanish moss dotted the front and back lawns like giant gray anthills. A stray lawn chair lay upside down in a flowerbed, part of someone’s privacy fence straddled the property line between Lucy’s house and the one to the south, and a soggy mattress drooped in the grass close to the street. Noah pulled out his phone and snapped a few photos to show Lucy.

  ###

  “I wish you had gotten me up and taken me with you.
” Lucy stared at the dozen or so photos on Noah’s phone, relieved that the house appeared to have survived the storm. She leaned against the kitchen island and took a sip of the cup of hot coffee he had offered her.

  “Until I got close to your street, I didn’t know whether I’d even be able to get to the house. And I forgot the key, so I wasn’t able to get in, but the roof and windows look okay, so I think the inside is probably okay. It’s still pretty messy all over the island, and you and the dogs should stay here where you’ll be safe.”

  “Safe? The storm is over. What’s there to be safe from?”

  “There are still some power lines down, flooding in lower areas. I don’t want to alarm you, but this island has snakes and alligators along with the cute wildlife like squirrels and raccoons. After a storm like this, they can come out of hiding and cause problems.”

  “Snakes. Great. Thanks for not alarming me.” Lucy shuddered, climbed onto a barstool, and rested her feet on the footrest. “What about the dogs? Is it safe to let them out?”

  “Yeah. I’ve spread snake repellent around the yard to replace what the storm washed away. The dogs will be fine.”

  Lucy snorted softly. “Snake repellent? You’re joking, right? Is that something like snipe hunting?”

  Noah gave a quiet laugh and shook his head. “Nothing like that. It’s a real thing and I get it at the home and garden store. Works wonders though it’s not effective against gators.”

  Lucy sucked in a loud breath. “Gators? I thought they only lived in swamps. What sort of Jurassic hell do I live in?”

  Noah peered over the top of his mug. “A wonderful sort. No dinosaurs, but an amazing array of creatures. Unless something like Dolly disturbs their habitat, they keep pretty much to themselves. Once we get back to normal, you should go to the library lectures about the island.”

  “Normal.” Lucy sighed loudly. “And to think that a few weeks ago I actually complained about life on this island being dull. And now I can’t get to my house. I have no way to get in touch with my business clients. Who, I can only hope, know I’m not deliberately ignoring them. I can’t afford to lose any accounts.” Lucy rose, carried their empty mugs to the sink.